The result of the bribery case will
shape the future of Formula One, the billion-dollar sport Ecclestone has
controlled for close on 40 years.

At the heart of the 256-page
indictment against Ecclestone is the accusation that he paid a bribe of
£27million to German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to maintain his control
over Formula One.

Prosecutors
say that Gribkowsky therefore steered the sale of the sport to CVC, a
private equity firm that had agreed to retain Ecclestone as F1’s chief
executive when they bought a majority shareholding in 2006.

Ecclestone,
83, denies the accusation, saying he gave money to Gribkowsky to stop
him making false claims about his tax affairs. Gribkowsky was sentenced
to eight-and-a-half years in prison in 2012.

Ecclestone has denied wrongdoing and said he was 'shaken down' because Gribkowsky was effectively blackmailing him.

'I'm confident, the sun is shining,' a dark-suited Ecclestone told camera crews jostling to film his entry into the Munich courtroom.

With an interpreter at his side, he confirmed the pronunciation of his name and his date of birth to judge Peter Noll.

Jail time: The F1 chief is facing 10 years imprisonment if found guilty

Out in front: Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton won the most recent grand prix in China last Sunday

Ecclestone, who married for a third
time in 2012 to a Brazilian woman more than 40 years his junior,
prompted laughter in the court when asked to clarify initial confusion
over his marital status.

'I like to remember the divorce part,' he said in English.

What is Ecclestone accused of?

He is accused of giving a $45m (£27.5m; 33m euros) bribe to a German banker Gerhard Gribkowsky to secure the sale of a stake in the F1 business to a company he favoured.

The allegation is that by securing the sale of the stake to a company Mr Ecclestone favoured, he would remain in charge of Formula 1 and its commercial rights, broadcast payments and sponsorship deals.

Mr Ecclestone admits paying Gerhard Gribkowsky, who is serving a jail sentence for receiving the payment, but has denied any wrongdoing.

He says it was a 'shake down' as the banker had been threatening to reveal false details of his tax affairs.

The
levity was short-lived as the prosecution read out the details of its
case that he channelled $44 million to former BayernLB banker Gribkowsky
for having helped to safeguard his position as head of Formula One.

The
case is due to last until September 16, though the court will sit only
one or two days a week. This will allow Ecclestone to continue to run
F1.

At the age of 83, Ecclestone has already made tentative noises with regard to a succession plan, stating last month he has been looking over the past few years for someone to assist and then take over.

If found guilty, even if Ecclestone avoids jail time and is instead punished with a severe financial penalty, the writing is on the wall.

Donald Mackenzie, co-chairman of F1's current majority shareholders CVC Capital Partners, has already stated Ecclestone will be sacked if convicted.

It is understood CVC have tentative plans in place for the worst-case scenario, although they have yet to be revealed.

Family: Ecclestone pictured with former wife Slavica, and daughters Petra and Tamara